Mankins IS in the fold for this year, in a better situation than last year (where he started half way through and still was great.) Getting 10MM. Maybe they’ll work something longer out with him, and if not they are drafting and trading to keep the line strong.

The Light signing keeps consistency and provides guidance to the Solder and the younger guys whether Mankins is there or not. So it’s a good move.

___
Apologist? Hardly. More like the REALIST. The reality being that he is GONE next season. Good luck finding someone as good (Hint: You won’t).

]]>By: patsfiendhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1165095
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:13:01 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1165095bozos… dude, lighten up. Are you the official Mankins apologist, or what? His agent? Do you deliver him turkey sandwiches?

Mankins IS in the fold for this year, in a better situation than last year (where he started half way through and still was great.) Getting 10MM. Maybe they’ll work something longer out with him, and if not they are drafting and trading to keep the line strong.

The Light signing keeps consistency and provides guidance to the Solder and the younger guys whether Mankins is there or not. So it’s a good move.

]]>By: bozosforallhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164457
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:26:02 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164457rc33 says:
Aug 1, 2011 10:13 AM
How do you know Mankins is “long gone” after this year in N.E.? How does anybody know?
He’s getting $10.1 million to play a position that is not considered a premium-expense position. Teams will think long and hard before tying up 8 or 9 million per season for a guy who is strictly a Guard. One thing’s for certain; there is zero chance he’ll get a long-term deal averaging $10 million….from anybody.

__
He was getting the $10 million as long as he signed the tender, yet he strenuously pursued getting his freedom all of last month. That’s how I know he’s gone after this season. The bloom is off the rose. Mankins is going to leave once he gets the chance. The Pats made sure of that by not giving him a longer term deal commensurate with what he has done for them throughout his career. Typical false arrogance from a Pats fan to think that he doesn’t deserve to be treated better.

I’m glad to see the Light, but we need to start building for the future on the OL.

]]>By: thenyolivehttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164382
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:03:07 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164382This is good news.
]]>By: patstrusteehttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164286
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:14:36 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164286gimmeabruschi says:
Aug 1, 2011 9:30 AM
This isn’t bolstering the notion Solder was a sure-fire pick. Light was a 2nd rounder and started for a superbowl winner as a rookie. They didn’t need to ease him in.

============
No mini camps or OTA’s put all rookies way behind in preparedness and playbook education. Very little, if any, judgement could possibly be made at this juncture. No?

]]>By: rc33http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164283
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:13:01 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164283How do you know Mankins is “long gone” after this year in N.E.? How does anybody know?
He’s getting $10.1 million to play a position that is not considered a premium-expense position. Teams will think long and hard before tying up 8 or 9 million per season for a guy who is strictly a Guard. One thing’s for certain; there is zero chance he’ll get a long-term deal averaging $10 million….from anybody.
]]>By: bozosforallhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164271
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:05:30 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164271murraysons says:
Aug 1, 2011 10:00 AM
Thanks once again for showing the rest of us how ignorant you Pats fans are. Mankins is long gone once he gets his freedom.

You mean after this year, since he signed his tender and showed up to work?

___
He wasn’t given much of a choice, moronsons. Next season, he will be given one. And he will be “gone baby gone” once he gets that choice.

]]>By: murraysonshttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164262
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:00:03 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164262Thanks once again for showing the rest of us how ignorant you Pats fans are. Mankins is long gone once he gets his freedom.

You mean after this year, since he signed his tender and showed up to work?

]]>By: gimmeabruschihttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164214
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:30:04 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164214This isn’t bolstering the notion Solder was a sure-fire pick. Light was a 2nd rounder and started for a superbowl winner as a rookie. They didn’t need to ease him in.
]]>By: thewizardsrevengehttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164209
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:28:01 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164209This may have been their most important signing.
O-line depth would have been suspect without Light this year. One of these tackles may end up playing guard.
]]>By: bozosforallhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164195
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:18:55 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164195ampats says:
Aug 1, 2011 8:57 AM

I would still like to see Mankins get signed to a long term deal.

___
Thanks once again for showing the rest of us how ignorant you Pats fans are. Mankins is long gone once he gets his freedom.

]]>By: j0esixpackhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164163
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:56:58 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164163If Vollmer and Solder are better than Light, they’ll get the starts over him – but I don’t think you’ll see that at the start of the season.

LTs typically lose their skills fast when that happens and it doesn’t appear that’s happened quite just yet with Light – but could at any point.

But with a 2 year contract there’s relatively little risk and Light can serve his current purpose – giving Solder a chance to learn the system, adjust to the NFL and develop, and then serve as an experienced veteran backup when someone can beat him out of the starting job.

]]>By: db105http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164161
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:56:10 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164161Return all 5 OL starters? What about RG Stephen Neal?
]]>By: homelanddefensehttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164137
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:41:43 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164137like Alex said, they arent returning all 5 starters on the line because Neal retired.
]]>By: Patskrieg dot comhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164102
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:04:38 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164102Vollmer started at left tackle for a handful of games in his rookie season 2 years ago when Light was injured. At this point he’s a better left tackle than Light, and he’ll always be a better left tackle than Nate Solder.
]]>By: jnbnethttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164077
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:21:20 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164077Great news. Having stability on the O line is so important. This will allow solder to “ease”into the position.
]]>By: alexr5111http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164070
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:16:39 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164070stephen neal
]]>By: tylerdurden187http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164067
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:15:18 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164067The Patriots are going to be unstoppable!
]]>By: bcgreghttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/pats-agree-to-terms-with-matt-light/#comment-1164066
Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:14:36 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=144076#comment-1164066YES!